Electric system for motor-vehicles.



H. W. LEONARD. DECD.

C- G. LEONARD..ADMINIST'RATHIX.

ELECTRIC SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3|. 19H.

UNITED sTAT s HARRY WARD LEoNAnn, or BBONXVILLE,

ISTBATRIX or sun HARRY WARD LEONARD, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR LEON RD INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION or NEw YORK.

-, PATENT OFFICE.

T0 1-1'. WARD ELECTRIC SYSTEM FOR MQTOIt-VEHICLES.

To all whom it may concern: p

Be itknown that I, HARRY WARD LEON- ARD, a citizen of the United States,- residing at Bronxville, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented cer-.

lates to an improved portable light and battery so related to the electrical system that it is maintained in a highly efiicient condition at all times. A

One object of -my invention is to provide a simple, economical and reliable method and means for maintaining abattery in satisfactory condition for service in operating a portable electrical light; another object is to adapt this battery for supplying an igni- .tion system for an engine of a motordriven vehicle by power derived from operation of the engine and to also adapt the portable battery for supplying current for various other urposes for which such a battery may be ut' ized. Various other objects and advantages of my invention will be understood from the following description and accompanying drawings.

By means of my invention a small portable storage battery is adapted to be'used in many instances where primary batteries have been used as an auxlllary to the electrlcal control systems of a motor car, and 1t is also adapted to be used in the place of a portable primary battery which has customarily been used in conjunction with a small electric lamp formed within a casing also containing the primary battery. Such a portable lamp and primary battery are usually provided with a switch or button adapted to be closed when it is desired to use the lamp and to be opened when the lamp is not in use. But such portable electric lamps, or flash-lights using primary batteries are unreliable and the user cannot feel sure how much longer they will run at any given time and'is helpless without new primary batteries when the old ones run down. They are also expensive to maintain if used to much extent. They depreciate in the energy available even when not used, and their Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

' Application filed March 31, 1914. Serial No. 828,432

internal resistance is so high that they cannot be used for purposes to which my im- NEw YORK; cAaoLYN-sLEoNAiw, ADMIN- proved portable storage batteryis adaptedJ In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 my invention in an electrical system for a motor car; Fig. 2 is a sectional viewof a portable storage battery cell; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of one form of portable unit having three storage battery 'cells and an electric lamp.

Referring to Fig 1 a gasolene engine is.

indicated at 1 which is'used for propelling engine, the spark plugs being supplied by' wires from the distributer- 6 with which is incorporated the usual induction coil the primary of WhlCh is shown IBCBlVlIlg energy for ignition purposes from amain storage battery 7 of the usual character, the secondary supplying current through the distributer to the spark plugs. This battery is also adapted to supply current to the starting motor 4 for starting the engine. The. engine is shown as driving a direct current generator 8 having ashunt winding; 9, the generator being adapted for charging the storage battery 7 and the auxiliary portable storage battery '10, and of course also supplies any other devices which it will be desirable to connect to the generator 8 In order to insure proper charging of the batteries, 1 provide automatic means for control of the generator and of the circuits. This consists of a compound wound magnet having an iron core 11, a series winding 12 and a shunt winding-'13. shown as having double armatures, one of which 14 is adapted to be attracted against pressure of a spring or gravity for closing is a diagram showing one embodiment of .j

the car and is shown as driving a fly-wheel The magnet is a circuit and the other armature 15 is shown at the other end of the magnet adapted to be attracted against pressure of a spring or gravity for opening a circuit. A comparatively high resistance 16 is shown in shunt around the armature 15 and its contacts, so

that when the armature isnot attracted the resistance 16 is short-'circuited, but when the I armature 'is. attracted by the magnet and its contacts broken, the resistance. 16 is inserted in Series with the shunt field. winding series coil 12 and cdntacts of the armature 14 across the terminals of the storage battery 7.

A circuit 17 is shown extending from the battery 7 and this circuit is adapted to supply any of the usual devices supplied from such a battery, such as'head-lights, horns,

, closing casing, the remaining space being occupied by a reflector 22, within which is 4 heating devices, etc., a head-light 18 being indicated in the drawings.

' -The.po rtable battery and portable lamp 10 of Fig. 1 is more fully shown in Fig. 3 and is shown as having a general casing 20' inclosing three storage battery'cells 21, two of which are located side by. side in the lower part of the casing 20,. and the third being located. inthe upper partof the in-'- located an incandescent lamp'23, the opening throughthe casing being closed by a glass 24. A switch25 of any suitable form is shown located on the outside of the casing, the closure of which connects the lamp 23 in circuit between the terminal plates 26 and 27 on the outside of the casing. The terminal plate 26 is perforated. at its upper end to receive the hook 28, which hook is ,l in electrical connection with one side of thebattery 7 as shown in Fig. 1. The hook 28 supports the portable unit and when the unit is imposition below the hook, the lower plate terminal 27 isin engagement with a yieldable contact 29, which is electrically connected to parts shown in Fig. 1, to be more fully described. When the portable unit is hung in position upon the hook the electro- .motive forces of the two batteries are in opposition to each other, the connections being such as to receive charging current from the main storage battery 7 or from the generator 8 when the latter is in service. The three cells 21, are connected in series with each other between the plate terminals 26 and 27 of the portable unit as diagrammaticallfy indicated in Fig. 3.

I pre which is made up of a retaining case 30 of suitable material such as celluloid which is not likely to crack or otherwise be affected by the acid electrolyte. The two plates of l the battery are shown at3'1, which may be of the usual type of the same character as those of the main battery 7, and are con the slidable gear 3 is thrown or to use a form of storage battery cell as shown in Fig. 2, of the drawings nected to terminalsat the upper art. The

ing 32, it is entrained all through the spun glass and retained somewhat similar to the retention of a'liquid by absorbent cotton and hence does not tend to leak out of the cell no matter in what position the cell may .be placed I have found this form of cell to be very satisfactory in efliciency and life, and it -may be made in small sizes with very satisfactory results.

A manually operated switch is shown at 35, which carries three bridgin elements 36, 37 and 38 adapted to make an break circuit between three sets of fixed contacts as shown. The switch .is shown as having'the handle 39 adapted to be pulled by the operator against the tension of the spring 40 and when so pulled the bridging element 37 breaks connection withdts contacts, and the elements 36 and 38 are brought into engagement'with their fixed contacts. At the same.

the operator, y the pivoted lever 40 into engagement with the gearon the fly-wheel 2 for starting the engine. When the operator releases the handle 39 the spring 41 pulls the switch back to the position shown in the drawings and also time the handle 39 is pulled by) throws the gear 3 to its disengaged position I as shown in the drawings.

An adjustable ohmic resistance 42 is shown connected in relation to the portable unit 10 and other which will'be more after.

With reference to the operation of the au-- ully explained herein- .tomatic means for controlling the generator 8 and its charging circuit connectlons, this may be briefly described as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1,.it is of course, desirable that the generatOr S shall not be connected in circuit with the battery 7 until its voltage has risen to the V proper amount. When the engine and generator 8 are started and the speed increased, the voltage of the generator rises and at a predetermined voltage, suilicient current will be passed through series coil 12, and potential coil 13 of the controlling magnet, these windings being cumulative in their effect under normal conditions, to attract the armature 14 and close the charging circuit this circuit extendin from the battery 8 arts, the function ofbetween the generator 8 and thebattery 9,

through the series 0011 12, the armature 14 to one terminal of the battery 7 and then meshes from its opposite terminal back to the generator 8. Upon the passage of the charging current through the series coil 12, the attractive force of the controlling magnet is somewhat increased depending upon the relative voltages between the generator and that of the battery 7. If the charging current becomes undesirably large, the controlling magnet will be so strongly energized as to attract the armature 15, which action breaks the circuit between the contacts controlled by the armature 15, which results in inserting the resistance 16 in the circuit of the shunt field winding 9 of the generator. The resultant weakenin of the field strength by this action lowers t e voltage of the genera.- tor, which reduces the excessive chargin current, and as the strength of the centre ling magnet is also reduced, the armature 15 is released and the field stren h of the generator strengthened by the s ort-circuiting of the resistance 16. This causes the voltage of the generator and the charging current to again increase and if it again becomes excessive, the above described action is repeated. If the voltage of the generator from any I cause falls below that of the battery or becomes so much reduced as to make the connection between the generator and the batter undesirable, the potential coil 13 owing to its reduced current will permit the armature 14 to be pulled b its spring to open circuit position, and wi 1 remain in the. open position until the volta e of the generator has increased to a pre etermined amount.

' It will also be understood that in case the circuit betwen the generator and the battery 7his in closed position and if the voltage of t e enerator should be lower than that of the attery while the chargin circuit was closed, a reversed current woul flow throu h the series coil 12 which would then act 1n opposition to the potential coil 13, and'reduce the resultant magnetization of the controllin magnet to such an extent as to cause t e armature 14 to be quickly released by the magnet and thereby open the charging circuit untilnormal charging conditions were restored.

The manual switch at the right of Fig. 1 is shown in position for normal running and by tracing the circuits it will be seen that the ignition energy is supplied by the battery 7,

a circuit extending from one pole of the battery through bridging element 37 of the manual'switch, thence through the ignition means 6 and then back to the other pole of the battery 7 Itwill also be seen that the portable batter unit 10 is atthis time conheated in para] el with the battery 7 through resistance 42 and the bridging element 37 1 of themanual switch.

If the engine, is at rest, and it is desired to start the engine, the operator pulls the handle 39 forward. This throws the gear 3 per minute. about 6 volts across its ter nmals when 1n main battery 7 and ignition means, and also opens the'circuit between the battery 7 and the resistance 42 and portable unit 10. The closing of, the element 36 places the starting anotor in closed circuit with the battery 7 and the'closure of the element 38 placesthe portable battery 10 in closed circuit with the ignition means, the resistance 42 bein out of circuit or short-circuited in this position of the switch. It will therefore be seen that in starting, the motor draws energy only from the main battery 7 and that during this period, the ignition means are independently supplied with energy from the portable battery 10, resistance 42 being without 'efl'ect. As soon as the engine is started, the operator releases the handle 39, and the switchis then moved by the spring 4 to the normal running position already described.

In some cases I secure the substantial independence of the two batteries while the large one is cranking the engine and the small one supplying t e ignition, by making the resistance 42 of sufficiently high ohms so that the current, which tends to flow from v the small battery to the large one, during the cranking of the engine, s so smallas not I to operatively interfere wit a proper supply of energy from the small battery to the ignition coil. In such case I can dispense with the switch element 38 for short circuiting resistance 42, and also with switchele ment 37 which opens the local circuit containing the two batteries 7 and 10 and the resistance 42. a

In further explanation of the operation, let us assumethat the battery 7 is a 6 volt battery and that it is rated at say ampere hours when dischargin at a rate of about 100 amperes per hour. he internal resistance of such a storage battery is'very low and hence it is possible to momentarily take from it a very large current for starting the engine. The maximum current taken in this way often reaches 500'amperes in prac- -tice,-alth0ugh 120-amperes is fairly representative of the current needed to crank an 1 average gasolene engine at revolutions While such a battery will have good condition and when supplying a small current, the efiect of the internal resistance and other characteristic features of the battery causes-the voltage across the battery to rise to say 7 volts, while being chargedfrom the generator, and causes the voltage across the battery terminalsto fall as lowas 4 voltswhen startingconditions are unfavorable' 'and the starting current is excessively should remain at en high.

The battery supplgng the ignition c1rcu1t the portable unit is hung in place on its hook its terminals at such a time bei and normal running conditions are established, the small battery is connected through the 1.5 ohms to the large battery 7, these batterms being in parallel with each other relatively to the charginggenerator. The internal resistance of each of the three small cells of -.the portable unit may be fairly assumed to be 9; ohm, makin a total internal resistance of l'ohm for t e small battery. Suppose the large battery to be well charged and the chargin current from the generator is being passes through it, the voltage across about 7 volts. Suppose the portable to h ve been used considerably and its voltage to be-5.5

volts. It may be assumed that th total resistance in the circuit including thextwo batteries and the resistance 42 is 215 ohms. Then'there will .be 1.5 volts eifectivelin sending current through 2.5ohms and the charging current to the ortable will beat of an ampere. As the c arging of the portable battery, under these conditions causes its voltage to gradually rise, the current flowing through the portable will automatically taper down. When the voltage of the battery 7 is seven volts and the counter volts of the portable are 6, there will be one volt 'ef-, fective through 2.5 ohms resistance and about .4 of an ampere char 'ng the portable.

Whenthe counter volts 0 the portableattain 6.5 volts, the charging current will be .2 ampere. Gradually inthis way as the charging automatically continues, the charging current automatically tends to be reduced and theoretically will finally reach zero current. This automatic tapering down of thecharging current from say- .6 ampere to zero is lmportant as this results in the minimum loss of water from the portable due to electrolysis and consequently the portablegwill v of attention in t is regard. Another function of the resistance 42 is to prevent excessive flow. of current from the large battery in case an accidental short-circuit be made I across the stationary contacts upon, which the portable'is supported and connected, as well a's'limiting the maximum char 'ng current to an amount which will not ful to the'portable battery. The amount of this resistance will be determined by the characteristics of the portable battery, the

voltages ofthe large and small battery and cintly high voltage to engine.

uire the minimum amount harmother controlling conditions. The resistance 42 is therefore preferablyadjustable and is so indicated in the drawings.

In case the car is not in operation or in use sothat no charging current is being supplied to the large battery 7 and it has been charged to about six volts, then if the portable un-it has been used for other purposes until its voltage has been reduced to 5.5 volts, then when hung up upon its hook there will be .5 volt effective for charg'in the portable battery through 2.5 ohms and the charging current at that time will be .2 ampere. In the course of a few hours the portable battery will be charged until its voltage is nearly equal to that of the large fully charged battery.

In some instances it may be desirable to have the portable unit as small and light in weight as ossible. and it may be unimpor- 'tant that it should be used for independently su iplying the ignitionmeans of then such cases, I use a portable unit of one battery cell of two volts and'connect it across one cell onl of the large battery using about .5 ohm 1n the circuit between them. [have found the portable storage battery unit very satisfactory and desirable in practice. Even if it be completely exhausted, it can be restored to perfect condition in a. .few hours, by merely hangin it in place on its hook. Even if'the portai accidentally reversed in connections to the large battery so that the large battery tends to short-circuit through the portable and sends current through the portable'in the reversed direction fromthat needed for charging it, although the relationship of the termmals are of such form as to prevent incor rect connections, I have found thatthe only apparent result was that in a comparatively short time the portable became re-charged in. the opposite sense; that is, the positive plate was converted into a negative plate and vice versa, but the rtable was sat sfactorily opera'tive undert ese conditions. The portable 1e be unit above described has many uses and advantages. If difficulty is experienced in starting-the engine, when the portable isused for su plying the ignition means independentl 1t is fpossible-to quickly ascertain 1f the V0 tage 0 this ignition battery is perfeet, by merely turning on the incandescent I lamp which is a good indicator-of-the condition of the,battery-, and which may be read- 11y understood by any user. When touring the portable is useful to examine machinery,-

consult ma s, examine baggage, read signs on the roa. way. or to make'excursions on foot.

The portable unit when notin use is always hung in (placeand 'chargedflasalready explained, an being normally/ ke t in a definite well known position-Ton is "*car,

,which may be at anyzd esired location on the car,is instantaneously available in case a light becomes important in a hurry for. any purpose. It is perfectly 'safe as regards risks of explosion of asolene and therefore is convenient when fil ing the gasolene tank or in the presence of any explosive. Such a portable unit is convenient to take with one when stopping at night at strange places, or to have with onset night, in case of fire, panic, burglary, sickness, or any other occasion where a rellable instantaneous light may be of service. It may be made of any desirable form and may be of service to doctors using motor cars as it enables them. to have a' suitable battery for lights, cauteries, induction coils, and other applications of medical and surgical devices.

It may sometimes be advisable to have several such portable units which could be kept charged in perfect condition on a motor car, motor boat or any charging plant, and such units could be used without fear thatthey might become exhausted and useless.

It will be understood that various modifications of my invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I declare as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a motor car, a gasolene engine, a lighting and engine starting system, electric ignition means for the engine, a. portable unit comprising a storage battery and lamp adapted when laced in position on the car to be connected in circuit with the li htin system for chargingsaidportable unlt, an

controlling .means for causing said unit to independently supply the ignition means while the engine is being automatically started.

I, In a motor car, ,a gasolene engine, two

storage batteries, means for charging batteries in parallel w1th each other w1th said - energy derivedfromsaid engine, and means forcausing one of said batteries to supplyenergy for cranking the engine and for causing the other of said batteries to supply the ignition means of the engine.

7 3. In a selfr0 elled vehicle, a gasolene engine for pr ucmg energy for propelling the car, a stora e battery for supplying current for headights and for cranking the engine, a second storage battery for furnishingcurrent to the ignition means of the,

engine while the first-named battery is supplying current for cranking the engine, and means .for' charging the two batteries in parallel after the engine has been started.

4. An internal combustion engine, electric ignition means therefor, a storage battery normally supplying energy to sa1d ignition means, dynamo electric means for transforming part of the power of the engine into electric energy and for supplying energy, to charge the storage battery and or later utiwhereby said batteries arecharged age battery for. supplying lizing such stored energy to crank the engine, a second storage battery, and circuit connections for connecting the second storage battery. to supply the ignition means while the first battery is supplying energy for cranking the engine and for connecting. the second storage battery in parallel with .the first battery after the engine has been started whereby the twobatteries are charged by energy derived from the engine.

0. A gasolene engine, jump spark ignition plugs therefor, an induction coil having a primary and a secondary winding, the secondary being connected to said spark plugs,

ergy derived from said engine, and means for causing one of said batteries to supply energy for cranking the engine and for causing the other of said batteries to independently supply the ignition means of the engine.

7. A gasolene engine, a storage battery, means for cranking the engine by energy derived from said battery, a second storage battery, ignition means for the en ine'supplied with energy. derived from sa1d second storage battery, said second storage battery and ignition means being in a circuit independent of said *firs't named battery, a

dynamo driven by said engine, and means dynamo.

8. In a motor drlven vehicle, a gasolene" engine adapted to produce propelling power, a dynamo driven. y said engine, incandes-, cent head-lights, electricignition means for by said Y I the engine, two storage batteries, one adapted to supply the ignition-means and the other to independently supply the head lights, and i controlling means for causing. said dynamo to charfge both of said batteries by energy-derived rom the power of'said engine.

9. A gasolene engine having electric ignition means, a storage battery .for supplying energy to the said ignition means, an electric motor for starting the eng1ne, 'a second storindependently of sa1d irst named battery maintaining both of said storage batteries charged by energy derived from sa1d engine.

10. A motor car, a gasolene engine for producing the propelling m p..-

said electric motor I V 2 and ofsaid lgnition' means, and means for tery for supplying said ignition means inde-' pendently of said first named battery and of said head-lights,.and dynamo electric means for converting a part of the power produced b said engine into electric energy and for charging both of said batteries independently of any outside source of energy.

11. A gasolene engine, a plurality of storage batteries, a single dynamo driven by said engine for simultaneously charging said batteries, means for starting the engine, said means deriving its energy from one of said batteries, and means for causing another of said batteries to independently supply the ignition means for the engine While the engine is being started.

12.- A gasolene engine, a plurality of storage batteries, a single dynamo driven by said engine for simultaneously charging said batteries, means for starting the engine, said means deriving its energy from one of said batteries, and means for causing another of said batteries to independently supply the ignition means for the engine while theengme is being started.

- 13. A gasolene engine, means for starting derived from said' engine comprising two storage batteries,

one for supplying energy for cranking the engine and the other for independently supplying energy for ignition, and means 'for charging both of said batteries by energy the engine after it has been started.

14. In a motor car, an engine for supplying the propelling energy, a main storage battery for supplying the lights and the ignition means while the car is in motion and for supplying energy for starting the engine,

,an auxiliary storage battery, said auxiliary battery having an indicating device for indicating its condition; means for simultaneously charging said main battery and said auxiliary battery by energy derived from the engine, and controlling means for causing the auxiliary battery to independently supply the ignition means while the engine is being started by energy supplied from the main battery.

In testimon whereof I affix my signature in presence 0 .two witnesses.

HARRY WARD I JEbNARD.

Witnesses: i

GEO. J. SCHEK, Jr., B. E. SMYTHE. 

